The province of Quebec is different from the rest of Canada. The language and traditions of most of its people are French rather than English. The name Quebec comes from an Algonquian Indian word meaning “where the river narrows.” It was first used for the province’s capital, Quebec city, which is located at a spot where the Saint Lawrence River narrows.

Want to see it in action?

Start a free trial

E-mail

To

From

Sender NamePlease enter your name.

Sender EmailPlease enter a valid email address.

Translate this page

Choose a language from the menu above to view a computer-translated version of this page. Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. Britannica does not review the converted text.

After translating an article, all tools except font up/font down will be disabled. To re-enable the tools or to convert back to English, click "view original" on the Google Translate toolbar.